A experience I will never get again. October 10, 2024
By Sofia M (Communications, University of Iowa) - abroad from 05/30/2024 to 07/28/2024 with
Study Abroad Programs in Australia
I learned about Australian culture, business practices, my career choice, my studies, cultural experience, and gaining lifelong friends. Definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The internship was beneficial and helped me gain a better understanding of my major and career choice. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My host country was amazing, beautiful, and spectacular. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living situation was very nice and good, however there was mold on almost every persons room on the windows, making some people sick. |
| * Food: |
Loved the food, very diverse. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Definitely easy to pick out that I am not from there, but I embraced this. If you are loud or dressed very different, people will notice. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Unfortunately, I did not agree that IES Abroad only allows you 1 healthcare visit before they start lowering your grade or punishing you. |
| * Safety: |
City was very safe, no issues ever. Felt safe walking alone at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Yes, because they I could be with the same group. However, I do think the program needs to do some reupdating and get rid of outdated things. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
This is hard, because internships are unpaid here. I just saved as much as I could before I left but this goes quickly with groceries, food, going out, etc. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $300-400 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save as much as you can before you go, try to divide that money into groceries, going out, clothes, etc., and bring Australian cash. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That the internship was unpaid. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
